Locals back under-fire festival

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T in the Park has "a huge level of support" from people living near Kinross, according to organisers.

Big Day Out Ltd said they had received dozens of letters from local residents backing the music festival.

It followed calls to scrap the three-day event after the disruption caused by this year's traffic problems.

The promoters said the festival had boosted the area's economy and profile, as well as contributing about £500,000 to local charities since 1997.

Heavy rain forced the closure of water-logged car parks on the first day of this year's T in the Park.

'No complaints'

It caused gridlock on roads around the site at Balado, with queues of up to 12 miles long.

Tayside Police have already promised a review of the event's traffic management plan.

Some local residents have complained about revellers using their gardens as toilets and to dispose of litter.

However, others have spoken out in defence of the music festival.

Evelyn Low, from Milnathort, said she had "no complaints whatsoever about the festival being in such close proximity".

We must not lose sight of the fact that in the eyes of the world the 11th T in the Park was yet another outstanding success Douglas AlexanderT in the Park landowner

She said: "Keep it going as long as you can. It's something for the young ones to look forward to during the summer and I have never found the behaviour of the festival attenders to be a problem.

"I had misgivings about the impact on such a small community before the first T in the Park at Balado, but they were unfounded and now I hope some moaners don't manage to get it stopped."

Pauline Sharp, from Kinross, added: "I would just like to give you my support as I am a Kinross resident and certainly would not like the festival to be axed.

"For one weekend in the year I'm sure everyone is quite happy to put up with a few diversions etc, as let's face it, nothing else ever happens in Kinross."

Open letter

T in the Park landowner Douglas Alexander said he would not let any of the "negative aspects" of this year's event be forgotten or dismissed.

In an open letter to the music festival's critics, he admitted his family had experienced some of the problems complained about by other local residents.

He added: "We must not lose sight of the fact that in the eyes of the world the 11th T in the Park was yet another outstanding success.

"T in the Park is one of the very few large scale events throughout the UK that has managed to deliver this year given the unprecedented rainfall that the entire country has endured throughout the summer.

"Now is the time to say: 'OK, that was unacceptable. Now let's all make every effort to make sure that it doesn't happen again'."